Ford's Bridgend plant is the centre of the company's petrol engine production in the UK. Where the plant has seen increasing volumes, leading to further expansion of the workforce. In 2006 the Welsh plant built 11 per cent more engines than the previous year. Bridgend will create a further 200 jobs this year to sustain its expansion.
Bridgend plant manager Bob Murphy said: "We have benefited from continuing strong demand for the Ford Motor Company cars we power, investment by the company and Welsh Assembly Government support. Co-operation from employees and unions is enabling us to meet rising orders for our advanced technology, high quality engines."
The plant assembles four, six and eight cylinder engines from 1.25 to 4.4-litre for the Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo brands. Its 3.2-litre unit, which went into production last year, is on show at this month's North American International Auto Show, modified to run on either bioethanol or petrol.
Bridgend's output this year will exceed 800,000 engines for the first time since the plant opened in 1980. It, like Dagenham, is on course to produce a million engines a year by 2009.
| | Dagenham engines built | Bridgend |
| 2006 | 683,729 | 671,202 |
| 2005 | 551,814 | 604,937 |
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